The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-02-17
BOSTON CORBETT DERAEGED.


Quite a sensation was caused in the
house Of representatives at Topeka
yesterday by the avenger of Lincoln's
assassination, the particulars of which
are about as follows, as cleaned from
the State Journal of Tuesday evening
Boston Corbett, who has been serV-
ing the legislative assembly as door
keeper of the east gallery of the house
of representatives, Created quite sem
sation this morning and showed dis
position for fight which made every
man cover before the slayer of Wilkes
Booth as a small man before giant.
Everything was quiet this morning
and harmony and peace reigned SUI
prcmc until shortly before the hour of
the assembling OF the house of repre-
sentatives.
Boston Corbett, who is the center of
curiosity in the house, passed along
the corridor, monarch of all he sur
veyed, and as he passed a number of
clerks, janitorS and assistant janitors
he heard loud laughing and talking.
He turned upon them and imagined
that they were making finn of him.
assistant janitors, Ben Williams. All
at once Corbett lost all control of his
temper, and drawing a knife made a
pass at Williams. The latter did not
remain to debate the question, but
rushed out of the hall into the outer
corridor. Corbett started in pursuit,
and caused a scattering of those who
were near. Sergeant-at-arms Charley
Norton heard the racket and was soon
on the scene of action to demonstrate
with the enraged doorkeepcr. AS Nor
ton approached Corbett looked at him
with eyes that flashed fire like a
Bengal tiger, and hastily drawing a
navy revolver warned him not to APP
proach a step farther or he would let
the light shine through his body. The
sergeant-at-arms thought discretion
the better part of valor, and allowed
the menacing' Corbett to hold his
ground.
With drawn revolver the enraged
doorkeeper passed to his post of duty
in the gallery, and no one dared ap-
proach him.
He paced up and down the triforium
all morning in full view of the house
with a revolver belted about his waist
and with an eagle eye that would have
done credit to any sentinel on duty.
Toward noon the craZed official sent
peremptory orders to have the house
adjourned inside of ten minutes, and
it was unanimously adjourned in about
one minutes time.
The sergeant-at-arms having been
given authority by the recent action of
the house to discharge any officer I'M
der his jurisdiction peremptorily, lost
no time in declaring the position held
by Boston Corbett vacant, and yet no
one dared to speak to or interfere with
him.
The police were called and after
considerable scheming so as to avoid a
shooting affair, succeeded in capturing
the slayer of Wilkes Booth, who was
taken to the city jail, where he will
await a preliminary trial.
The general verdict of those who
know him is that Corbett is deranged.
Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms George, of
the senate, was raised in the same
ward with Corbett in the city of New
York, and says that Corbett was al
ways orderly and gentlemanly when a
young man, and was an industrious
halter by trade, which business he fol-
lowed until he went to the war.
1t is understood this afternoon that
so soon as Boston Corbett will quiet
down, go home and attend to his bust
ness he will be released and given the
money due him for his services.
When the three policemen captured
him he was thrown down and his knife
and navy revolver taken away. The
only thing he said when captured was,
':You are pretty gang"